SOG Ch 54

“…Sunbae-nim.”

Song Se-in, the apprentice who had been accessing the guiding room camera system while seated in front of the computer, spoke cautiously.

“Are we really… allowed to do this?”

Her keen eyes scanned the office. They were now in the emergency guiding center’s office, which was located behind the station. It was the place where Seon Jae-chan had a big fight with his father, Esper Seon Min-yeol, in October of last year.

Jae-chan replied by pasting the post-it with the login password on the bottom of the keyboard again.

“If you’re nervous, leave. You’re annoying me.”

“What do you mean, no one pays attention to this side of the room.”

Han Myeong-gyu, who carefully looked outside through the gap in the blinds, chimed in.

Jae-chan didn’t care whether anyone paying attention or not. The office manager’s life pattern is similar to that of team leader Hong Ye-deok, who frequently leaves the workplace; he was a great man who was very respectful to his father, Seon Min-yeol, so he could bet that if he was caught, there would be no harm.

With that in mind, he had barged into the office straight away, and the apprentices from Team 2 had followed suit. Although the interns seemed to conceal their desire to see if the senior was a silver spoon, they couldn’t hide their subtle excitement.

Then there was a knock to the agreed-upon rhythm, and Cho Kang-man, who had gone on reconnaissance, returned. Despite his name implying immense strength, he had a slim build and returned resolutely.

“Sunbae-nim. Esper Go and Guide Nam entered Room 108 as you said. Instead of following them directly, I asked another witness to find out.”

“108. Se-in, Room 108.”

Jae-chan told Song Se-in, who was holding onto the computer.

Surveillance cameras were set up in each guiding room in case of an emergency. The camera angle could be checked at any time in the working-level office and the secretary’s office. This was why some Espers with malicious intent avoided guiding rooms.

“Quickly. Look into it.”

Jae-chan’s eyebrows twitched. Nervous, Se-in holding the mouse stuttered.

“U-uh, Room 108… the numbering here is a bit confusing…”

“Move over.”

Feeling frustrated, Jae-chan pushed Se-in along with the wheeled chair. Slowly, the three people flowed away, Room 108… Room 108… Seon Jae-chan muttered softly and grabbed the mouse himself.

Seeing the senior concentrating, the other two interns who were still on guard, as well as Se-in who had been pushed by the chair, gathered around out of curiosity. Soon, they all realized. They had found the camera for Room 108.

“Huh?”

What greeted them was an empty bed and an empty chair. The room was completely vacant.

Jae-chan was about to ask Kang-man if he had confirmed properly when the door suddenly swung open.

Startled, the heads of one senior and three apprentices turned simultaneously.

And the four pairs of owl eyes widened in astonishment.

The unexpected visitors were Go Woo-jin and Nam Hae-sol, whom they had been desperately searching for just now.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The three apprentices immediately straightened their backs and innocently shifted their gazes. Since the moment they decided to follow their senior’s lead and act recklessly, they had planned to shift all responsibility onto him, so they weren’t greatly surprised.

Only Jae-chan remained stiff as a board. He was confident that he could be brazen no matter who walked in, except for Go Woo-jin.

“Sunbae-nim. I really wanted to do well, but Esper Go Woo-jin refused…”

We couldn’t measure the wavelengths. Like someone who committed a crime, Hae-sol muttered in a hushed voice. For her, it might have been an attempt to break the awkward silence, but once again, it was a feeble attempt in Jae-chan’s ears.

Afterward, silence descended once again.

Now, Seon Jae-chan was only looking at the monitor. Go Woo-jin didn’t divert his gaze from him, as if engaging in a staring contest.

The three apprentices exchanged glances and stealthily left the office. Nam Hae-sol, who was about to say something again, had her mouth blocked by Se-in.

“Are you here for guiding?”

With a composed movement, Jae-chan casually asked after turning off the camera program. However, his hand gripping the mouse was struggling to conceal its trembling.

“Yeah.”

Woo-jin answered calmly.

At that moment, Jae-chan felt that all the fears that surrounded him melted a little.

Briefly lifting his gaze, Jae-chan cautiously stared at Woo-jin. This time, it seemed like Woo-jin had dressed formally, wearing a pristine white military uniform. Despite often being criticized by other Espers for its vivid colors, the uniform suited him perfectly.

And his expression was as serene as a snowfield.

The face was the same as before. Only now could Jae-chan finally put his unease to rest. It seemed that the source of his fear was also becoming apparent.

…I was worried that Woo-jin might dislike me.

Jae-chan and Woo-jin had been building a relationship that was clearly different from before. Though it was fragile, he had managed to earn a small amount of trust from him.

Perhaps, Jae-chan had been concerned that he had completely lost that tiny amount of trust due to their incident at the hotel. However, seeing that Woo-jin didn’t show any particular signs, he felt relieved.

His heart lightened and a small smile formed on his lips. His shock at realizing Nam Hae-sol and Woo-jin were both presents had faded into the background.

“If you need help, just call.”

Jae-chan’s heart felt noticeably lighter.

Meanwhile, though Woo-jin didn’t show it, he was thinking about the same day. To be precise, he was trying hard not to think of the moment when guide team leader 1, Han Tae-hoon, and Seon Jae-chan were together.

The face that was kissed by Han Tae-hoon as the elevator doors closed, started to overlap with Jae-chan’s face which was now staring at him. The look he’d given Tae-hoon, the pale complexion, and the way he’d never refused the kiss.

Woo-jin forced himself to cut off those thoughts.

“Why bother? I can come.”

Due to the various thoughts swirling within him, Woo-jin’s tone and expression were gruffer than usual. However, the content of his words caused Jae-chan’s eyes to widen.

He was even a bit moved. It was an advancement beyond what he could have imagined compared to the last time. Jae-chan once again made a promise to himself that if Woo-jin ever needed guiding, he would cast aside any embarrassment or awkwardness and rush to his side.

Since guiding couldn’t be done in the office, the two of them stepped out of the room.

Jae-chan glanced around to see if any of the apprentices were watching. They were busy trying to stand up the toppled ampoules against one side of the wall. Following Woo-jin, Jae-chan crossed the bustling emergency center to head to the guiding room.

‘Is this guy even bigger now…?’

Once they entered the room together, the standard-sized space suddenly felt cramped. Jae-chan glanced curiously at Woo-jin’s broad shoulders and sturdy build. Something was off. It seemed like his physique had improved.

In fact, Woo-jin had been using his abilities more freely for the past three weeks to train his physical strength. Not only Kim Geun-won but also the presence of Jae-chan had allowed him a bit more freedom.

Woo-jin took a seat on the bed first. Jae-chan sat beside him and lightly brushed his fingertip against the thicker hand of the other. It was more of a cautious gesture than actual contact.

“Mmm…”

Seon Jae-chan rang his throat. When the skin touches the skin, it feels a little tingling. Maybe the training schedule was tough, but Go Woo-jin’s wavelength was slightly disturbed.

Jae-chan hummed softly. When skin met skin, there was a slight tingling sensation. Perhaps due to the rigorous training schedule, or perhaps due to Woo-jin’s altered wavelength, something felt slightly different.

Slowly starting the guiding, Jae-chan began to speak.

“You’re heading to the conflict zone this time? Because of the ‘visit’.”

‘Visit’ was the code name for an assassination mission. The Supreme Commander had been pursuing a scientist who had betrayed the Union for a long time. An infamous traitor who was both an enemy of the state and a fugitive abroad. Everyone was frustrated that they hadn’t been able to eliminate this individual.

E-SOF, the Esper Special Operations Force 1, had been chasing after this individual for a long time. Recently, it had been revealed by an anonymous informant that the scientist was hiding in the conflict zone. Most likely, this target was going to be eliminated as part of this operation.

“I said I’m going too.”

As the guiding continued to deepen, Jae-chan spoke.

Heading beyond the Union’s borders. Moving to the conflict zone was an extremely dangerous endeavor that most guides avoided at all costs. When Jae-chan had mentioned that he would be following E-SOF’s mission this time, Team Leader Hong Ye-deok had even sarcastically asked if he was expressing his dissatisfaction with being assigned apprentices through this method.

“No need to come. I’ve declined.”

That’s when Woo-jin replied.

It was a firm tone with a low tone. Jae-chan looked up suddenly.

Thick eyebrows that seemed to have been carved with care by a sculptor, and dense eyelashes that adorned the edges of his eyes. However, the coldness in his perfect features made him appear more cold than sculpted, causing Jae-chan’s blinking speed to increase slightly.

Woo-jin sensed that subtle movement with his keen sensitivity. He slightly parted his neat lips and then, avoiding eye contact again, he grumbled in his usual blunt manner.

“…It’s dangerous.”

In response to that, Jae-chan, who had been meticulously aligning their wavelengths for guiding, paused.

It was already rare for an Esper to bring their Guide all the way to a conflict zone within the Union’s missions.

Even so, he felt as if he was going to start his delusions because of those few words. Jae-chan wasn’t sure if Woo-jin realized that every word he said made him happy above and beyond.

…If he knew, he’d probably run away.